Control means for strand processing machines



March 10, 1964 c. c. THOMPSON 3,123,890

CONTROL MEANS FOR STRAND PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet l 140 IN VENTOR:

Cmzns C. THOMPSON s wak W ATTORNEYS March 10, 1964 c. c. THOMPSON 3,123,890

CONTROL MEANS FOR STRAND PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1962 lOl 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Y 92 F H n-lni'. I

INVENTOR. 4 J

Cuzns C. THOMP5ON BY mrmmalmmg ATTORNEYfi March 10, 1964 CONTROL MEANS FOR STRAND PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1962 c. c. THOMPSON 3,123,890

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z6 60? i? I 120 69 55 12\ I26 124 I I52 I 6 INVENTOR.

awkk March 10, 1964 c. c. THOMPSON 3,123,890

CONTROL MEANS FOR STRAND PROCESSING MACHINES Filed Jan. 12, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 r I :37 I 1 9 77 12% \22a 15711. I ,2 52 Z? 50- 1 125: no 1 @7 us L22 Cukns C. THOMPSON,

a m INVENTOR. I0

ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ofilice 3,123,890 Patented Mar. 10, 1964 answer CONTROL MEANS FOR STRAND PROCESSBING MACHINES Curtis C. Thompson, Rte. 3, Forest City, N.C. Filed Jan. 12, 12962, Ser. No.165,782 Claims. (Cl. 2.851)

The present invention relates to machines for processing a bank of strands of indefinite length, and more particularly to means for sensing abnormalities in the strands and interrupting the normal operation of the machine in response thereto.

The present invention is particularly adaptable for use with textile machines, such as slashers, wherein a bank of textile yarns, usually several thousand, are being processed for forming a warp beam for a loom, preparatory to being woven into cloth. Slashers are provided with a beam creel at the back of the machine for receiving the required number of beams, usually 4 to 12, which go to make up the complete warp beam. The yarns from these beams are led through a suitable coating station or size box wherein the desired size mixture is placed on the yarns. Thereafter, these yarns are dried and guided in groups through the teeth of a comb and wound onto a take-up roll which serves as a warp beam for the loom.

Conventionally, slashers are driven by a variable speed drive which drives the same at a relatively fast normal operating speed or at a reduced or slow speed, also referred to as the crawling or creeping speed. The control for this drive is such that when the slasher is started from a full stop, the same is driven at the crawling speed and, after the operator has determined that the machine is operating properly, he can cause the drive to operate the slasher at normal operating speed. The crawling speed is provided for repairing or alleviating minor operating difliculties because it is normally undesirable to stop a slasher except for major operating difliculties.

Further, in the processing of these yarns on a slasher, abnormal enlargements frequently occur for a number of reasons, the primary one being due to the nonuniformity of the sizing material applied to the yarns. Furthermore, the yarns sometimes become intertwisted and frequently broken and entangled with adjacent yarns of the same group or adjacent groups. When these abnormal enlargements or entanglements engage the comb, if the same exceed a predetermined size, the spacing of the teeth of the comb will not permit the passage therethrough. If the number of yarns involved in these enlargements or entanglements exceed a predetermined number, i.e., three or four, the restriction on their passage through the comb results in yarn build-up behind the comb which, of course, interferes with the operation of the machine and causes what may be termed a major operating difiiculty which would necessitate stopping of the slasher. If the number of yarns involved in the abnormal enlargement or the entanglement does not exceed the aforementioned predetermined number of three or four, a minor operating difliculty results and it is preferable to repair the same at the crawling speed and to avoid stopping of the slasher.

conventionally no control means is provided for slashers which will sense the presence of abnormal enlarge ments and entanglements engaging the comb and resulting in build-up therebehind, and therefore, the operators visual monitoring of the operation of the slasher is the only means of detecting the presence thereof. A slasher is a very large machine, especially in length, and it is the usual practice to have a single operator for each slasher. This operator is required to monitor not only the front end of the machine but also the full length thereof and therefore is required to walk around the machine for properly attending thereto. Since the slasher is operating at a relatively fast speed, i.e., from 50 to yards per minute, it can therefore be readily appreciated that, if an abnormal enlargement or entanglement occurs in the yarns when the operator is away from the delivery end of the machine, considerable waste will result since considerable yardage of yarns will be Wound on the take-up roll before the abnormal condition is detected by the operator. In many cases, this results in dofiing the imperfect beam and starting a new warp beam. The doifed beam is then unwound to the point of the occurrence of the defect and used as a short Warp beam. The unwound warp yarns are relegated to waste. It is therefore believed apparent that abnormal enlargements and entanglements have heretofore resulted in expensive waste and loss of time and production.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide control means which operates in conjunction with a machine for processing a bank of strands of indefinite length, said control means being operable to sense abnormalities in the strands and to interrupt the normal operation of the machine in response thereto.

A more specific object of the present invention is to provide control means of the character described which utilizes a comb which maintains the strands separated into groups and guides the same to a take-up roll for sensing abnormal enlargements or entanglements in the bank of strands and means associated therewith for reducing the speed of operation of the machine in response thereto.

A further specific object of the present invention is to provide control means of the character last described including means for varying the force required to actuate the control means such that the number of strands required to be broken or the number of strands in which the abnormal enlargement occurs may be set at a predetermined number.

Some of the objects of the invention having been stated, other objects will appear as the description proceeds, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which- FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of the front portion of a Warp processin machine embodying the control means of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1 with portions broken away;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse vertical section taken substantially along line 3-3 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially along line 4-4 in FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a plan View of the structure shown in the right-hand portion of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an exploded isometric view of the structure shown in FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged sectional View taken substantially along line 7-7 in FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 8 is a section taken substantially along line 8-8 in FIGURE 4; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic view of the circuit for the warp processing machine including the control means of the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGURE 1, there is shown a portion of a machine 10 of the type normally referred to as slashers, warpers, beamers, etc., for processing a bank of yarns Y. Machine 10 comprises a frame II which is normally supported on a suitable supporting surface (not shown). A take-up beam 12 is mounted for rotation on frame 11 at the forward end thereof and is adapted to wind the bank of yarns Y thereon. A plurality of guide rolls 13, 14 and 15 are disposed adjacent the take-11p beam 12 for guiding the yarns thereto and are also mounted for rotation on the frame 111. The guide rolls 13 and 15 are idler rolls whereas roll 14 is driven in a conventional manner from a variable speed drive motor 20 (FIGURE 9).

Drive motor 20 is of the two-speed type having low speed and fast speed windings. Motor 20 includes an output shaft 21 on which a drive pulley 22 is mounted for rotation therewith. Drive pulley 22 drivingly supports 'one end of a belt 23 which is supported at its other end by a pulley 24 drivingly mounted on a stub shaft 25. Drive pulley 22 and pulley 24 are of the variable diameter sheave type to vary the speed at which stub shaft 25 is driven as is conventional in this type of apparatus. A drive sprocket 26 is mounted on stub shaft 25 and drivingly supports one end of a sprocket chain 27. A sprocket 30 supports the other end of sprocket chain 27 and is driven thereby. Sprocket 30 is drivingly mounted on a shaft 31 which mounts roll 14 and a sprocket 32 is mounted on shaft 31 for rotation therewith. Sprocket 32 supports a sprocket chain 33 which is supported at its other end by a sprocket 34 mounted on a stub shaft 35.

A sprocket 36 is mounted on stub shaft 35 for rotation therewith and supports one end of a sprocket chain 37. The opposite end of sprocket chain 37 is supported by a sprocket 4t) drivingly mounted on a shaft 41. Shaft 41 is drivingly connected to the shaft of roll 12 by a friction clutch device 42 which comprises a first clutch element 42a which is connected to shaft 41 and a second clutch element 4% which is connected to the shaft of roll 12. The clutch elements 42a and 4217 are adapted to be moved into frictional engagement for frictionally connecting the two shafts together in driving engagement.

A leasing bar 43 is mounted on frame 11 in spaced relation to guide rolls 13, 14 and 15. Leasing bar 43 is adapted to have one-half of the yarns in the bank of yarns pass on opposite sides thereof and to serve to lease the same apart to aid in preventing the same from becoming entangled or stuck together.

A comb generally indicated at 50 is mounted on frame 11 between leasing bar 43 and guide rolls 13, 14 and 15 and comprises a base member 51 which is mounted at opposite ends by a pair of spindles 52, 53.

Spindles S2, 53 have a pair of bearings 54 mounted thereon and fixed against rotation by set screws 55. Bearings 54 are received within suitable recesses formed in the base member 51 for mounting the same on the spindles for pivotal movement relative thereto. Spindles 52, 53 are mounted for sliding movement in a pair of bearing brackets 60, 61 which in turn are carried by posts 62, 63 mounted in brackets 64, 65 for vertical adjustment. Posts 62, 63 are locked in adjusted position by set screws 66. Spindle 52 is fixed against rotation by a slot 67 formed therein which receives a pair of keys 68 carried by bracket 60. Spindle 52 is threaded and mounts an internally threaded bevel gear 69 thereon for rotation relative thereto.

A bevel gear 70 is mounted on one end of a shaft 71 and has the teeth thereof in mating engagement with the teeth on bevel gear 69. Shaft 71 is journaled for rotation in a suitable bearing (not shown) mounted on bearing bracket 60 and a bearing 72 mounted on frame 11. The end of shaft '71 opposite from bevel gear 70 has a hand wheel 73 drivingly mounted thereon for manual rotation of shaft 71.

Comb 50 further comprises a plurality of teeth 74 which are arranged in sections which in turn are arranged in a zig-zag pattern. Each section of teeth 74 is carried by a bar 75 which is mounted on one element 76 of a lazy tong structure. The other element 77 of the lazy tong structure is arranged in conventional manner with element 76 so that the angularity of the sections relative to each other may be varied and hence the angularity of the sections relative to the bank of yarns may be varied. The pivot point of each two elements 76, 77 of the lazy tong structure is mounted on a nut member 7 8 having an internally threaded opening therein. The internally threaded openings of nut members 78 receive threaded portions 80a, Shb of a shaft 3%. The threaded portions 80a on one-half of shaft 80 have threads thereof extend- 4 ing in one direction and the threaded portions b on the other half of shaft 80 have the threads thereof extending in the opposite direction. Also, the threaded portions of shaft 80 are of different thread pitch such that each pivot point of the lazy tong structure moves the same distance relative to the adjacent pivot point when shaft 80 rotates.

Shaft 80 is journaled at one end in a recess formed in spindle 52 and is fixed at its other end to spindle 53. A bevel gear 31 is drivingly mounted on spindle 53 by a slot 82 formed in spindle 53 which cooperates with a key (not shown) mounted on bevel gear 81 to allow spindle 53 to slidably move relative to bevel gear 81. A bevel gear 83 is mounted on one end of a shaft 84 which is journaled for rotation in a bearing (not shown) mounted on bracket 61 and a bearing 85 mounted on frame 11 and is slidable relative thereto to move bevel gear 83 into driving engagement with bevel gear 81. The opposite end of shaft 34 has a hand wheel 86 drivingly mounted thereon for manual rotation of shaft 84.

The end portion of shaft 84 adjacent bevel gear 83 is of reduced diameter to define a shoulder spaced from bracket 61. The reduced portion has a collar 87 loosely mounted thereon with one side thereof abutting the shoulder so that when gear 63 is moved into engagement with bevel gear 81, collar 87 will move with shaft 84. A compression spring 90 is positioned in surrounding relation to the reduced portion of shaft 84 between collar 87 and bracket 61 to bias bevel gear 83 out of engagement with bevel gear 81.

A substantial-1y L-sbaped finger 91 is mounted at one end on collar 87 and has one portion extending perpendicular to shaft 84 and the other portion extending parallel to shaft 84 to a point adjacent base member 51. Finger 91 is adapted to be moved into contacting relation with base member 51 to prevent pivotal movement thereof when shaft 84 is rotated and hence shaft 80 is rotated to adjust the lazy tong elements 76, 77. A guide member 92 is mounted on frame 11 and engages the lower surface of finger 91 to maintain the same in position during sliding movement thereof and to prevent counter clockwise rotation of finger 91 when shaft 84 is rotated in this direction. It i noted that the weight of finger 91 is suflicient to prevent clockwise rotation thereof when shaft 84- is rotated in that direction.

A first flangem'em'ber is mounted on base member 51 adjacent the end tihereof mounted on spindle 52 and extends laterally outwardly therefrom. Flange 100 is received between a pair of stop members 101, 102 which are spaced at distance apart greater than the thickness of the flange member 100. Stop members 101 and 102 are mounted on an L-shaped bracket 103 which in turn is mounted on bracket plate 104 by a bolt 105. Plate 104 has a horizontally extending portion 104a and a vertical portion 104b. Vertical portion 10412 of plate 104 has elongate openings 106 formed therein which receive bolts 107 for vertically adjustably mounting bracket plate 104 on frame 11.

It is noted that flange 100 and stop members 101 and 102 cooperate to limit the pivotal movement of base member 51 relative to spindles 52, 53 with stop member 102 defining the normal operating position thereof and stop member 101 defining the limit of movement of comb 5 4} when the same senses an abnormal enlargement or entangelement and is moved thereby to actuated position.

It is further noted that comb 50 will remain in the actuated position until the abnormal enlargement or entanglement which moved the same to this position is removed. Comb 50 must then be reset to the normal operating position with flange 100 in engagement with stop member 102. To reset the comb, the operator of the machine slides finger 91 into engagement with base member 51 by sliding shaft 84 in its bearing. Finger 91 will engage the top portion of base member 51 and will pivot the same until flange 10h engages stop member 102. While the above structure is preferred, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that any suitable means may be provided for returning the comb to the normal operating position upon the removal of the abnormal enlargement or entanglement.

A second flange 110 is mounted on the opposite side of member 511 from flange 100. A switch 111 is mounted on the horizontal portion 104a of bracket plate 104 by suitable bolts 112 and has an actuating element 113 positioned beneath flange 110. Switch 111 is connected in a manner to be presently described in the drive circuit for motor 20. It is noted that switch 1111 is of the two position type and is operative in one position to cause motor 20 to operate at normal operating speed and is operative at its other position to cause motor 20 to operate at the reduced speed.

A collar member 120 is fixedly mounted on base member 51 in surrounding relation to the spindle 52. A sleeve 121 is positioned in surrounding relation to spindle 52 and is connected thereto by an insert 122 mounted in sleeve 121 by screws 123, 124. A lock nut 125 is threadably mounted on spindle 52 on the side of insert 122 adjacent bracket 60 to adjust sleeve 121 relative to collar 120. Sleeve 121 has brake elements 126 mounted therein in the portion surrounding collar 120 which are adapted to be moved into braking engagement therewith.

The portion of sleeve 121 which mounts brake elements 126 and which extends between brake elements 126 and insert 122 has a plurality of slits 130 formed therein to allow this portion of sleeve 121 to be collapsed inwardly to move brake elements 126 into varying degrees of braking engagement with collar 120. The portion of sleeve 121 between brake elements 126 and insert 122 is externailly threaded as indicated at 131 and threada'bly receives an internally threaded sleeve 132 which when rotated in one direction moves longitudinally along sleeve 121 toward collar 120 and collapses the portion of sleeve 121 having the slits 130 therein inwardly and will thereby move brake elements 126 into braking engagement with the collar 120. Rotation of, sleeve 132 in the opposite direction will move the same longitudinally along sleeve 121 away from collar 120 and will allow the portion of sleeve 121 having slits 1130 to move brake elements 126 out of engagement with collar 120.

The side of sleeve 132 opposite from base member 51 is formed with teeth 133. A pinion gear 134 is mounted for rotation on screw 123 and has the teeth thereof disposed in mating relation to teeth 133. Pinion gear 134 has a Wing member 135 drivingly mounted thereon for manual rotation of pinion 134 and hence of sleeve 132.

Collar 120 has a recess 136 formed in the outer face thereof. A latch member 137 is mounted for partial rotation and for sliding movement in an opening through insert 122 and has the inner end thereof disposed in alignment with recess 136. A washer 138 is mounted on latch member 137 in spaced relation to the inner end thereof and a compression spring 139 is mounted in surrounding relation to latch member 13 7 between washer 138 and insert 122 and serves to bias latoh member 137 toward collar 120. A pair of projections 137a is formed on latch member 1137 on the opposite side of insert 122 from spring 139 and cooperates with recesses 122a formed in insert 122 when alined therewith to allow latch member 137 to move toward collar 120 and the inner end thereof to move into recess 136 to lock collar 120- and sleeve 121 together to prevent relative movement therebetween. Latch member 137 is adapted to be manually retracted away from collar 120 and rotated 9 0 to move prog'ections 137a out of alinement with recesses 122a to thereby maintain the latch member 137 in retracted position with the inner end thereof out of recess :136 to allow relative movement between collar 120 and sleeve 121.

Referring now to FIGURE 9, the circuit for the drive motor 20 is shown schematically and includes a male plug member 140 adapted to be inserted in any suitable outlet. A power line 141 and a ground line 142 are connected at one end to plug 140. Power line 141 is connected at its other end to a start switch 143 included in a control panel 144 which also includes a stop switch 145 and a speed control switch 146. Start switch 144 is of the normally open type and has the other side thereof connected to one side of stop switch 145 by a line 147. This side of stop switch 145 is connected by a line 148 to one side of a solenoid 150. Ground line 142 is con nected at its other end to the other side of solenoid 150. The other side of stop switch 145 is connected by a line 151 to one side of a switch 152 which is connected to and controlled by the plunger of solenoid 150.

The other side of switch 152 is connected to power line 141 by a line 153. A second switch 154 is connected to and controlled by the plunger of solenoid and has one side thereof connected to line 153 by a line 155. The other side of switch 154 is connected by a line 156 to a line 157 which is connected at one end to speed control switch 146 and at its other end to one side of the first position of stop motion switch 111. The opposite side of switch 146 is connected by a line 160 to one side of a switch 161, and the other side of switch 161 is connected by a line 162 to one side of the low speed windings of motor 20. The other side of the low speed windings of motor 20 is connected by a line 163 to ground line 142.

The other side of the first position of switch 111 is connected by a line 164 to one side of a switch 165 which is connected to switch 161 by the plunger of a solenoid 166. Switch 165 is of the normally open type whereas switch 161 is of the normally closed type and switch 165 is moved to the closed position and switch 161 is moved to the open position upon energization of solenoid 166. The opposite side of switch 165 is connected by a line 167 to one side of the fast speed windings of motor 20, and the other side of the fast speed windings of motor 20 is connected by a line 170 to line 163.

One side of solenoid 166 is connected by a line 171 to one side of switch 172 which is of the normally open type and is fixedly connected to switch 146 and is moved to closed position upon movement of switch 146 to open position. in open position and switch 146 in closed position. The gh7er side of switch 172 is connected by a line 174 to line The side of solenoid 166 to which line 171 is connected is also connected to line 167 by a line 175, and the opposite side of solenoid 166 is connected by a line 176 to line 163. One side of the second position of switch 111 is connected to line 162 by a line 177 and the other side is connected to a signal light 180 by a line 181. The opposite side of signal light 180 is connected to line 163 by a line 182.

In operation, the width of the comb 50 and the spacings between the teeth are set by adjusting the lazy tong elements 76, 77 by rotation of shaft 80 through bevel gears 81, 83 and shaft 84 by hand wheel 86. It is noted that the setting of the spacing between the teeth determines the size of enlargement which may pass therethrough and the spacings are varied by varying the angularity between the sections of teeth and the bank of yarns. The yarns are then threaded between teeth 74 of the comb with a predetermined number of yarns being drawn in each dent as desired. The yarns are then passed over guide roll 15 under guide roll 14 and then over guide roll 13. The yarns then pass to take-up beam 12 upon which the same are wound.

To start the yarn processing machine, the comb 50 is disposed in operative position with the flange 100 in engagement with the lower stop member 102. The operator then closes switch 143 which energizes the solenoid 150 and closes switches 152 and 154. Since switch 146 is closed and switch 172 is open and switch 161 is closed and switch 165 is open, the low speed windings of motor 20 are energized and the motor drives take-up roll 12 and guide roll 14 at the low or reduced speed. To operate the A spring 173 normally maintains switch 172 l machine at the high or normal operating speed, the operator closes switch 172 thereby opening switch 146 and de-energizing the low speed windings of motor 20. With switch 172 closed, solenoid 166 is energized closing switch 165 and opening switch 161. With switch 165 is closed, the high speed windings of motor are energized and the motor drives the take-up roll 12 at the high or normal operating speed. It is noted that the solenoid 166 is maintained energized when switch 172 is opened by the holding circuit through switch 111.

If an abnormal enlargement such as a slub, a large solidified piece of size or matted together yarns or broken entangled yarns engage teeth 74 of comb 50, the pulling action of the take-up roll 12 and the driven guide roll 14 on the yarns will cause comb 50 to pivot about spindles 52, 53 moving the flange 110 downwardly and thereby moving switch 111 to its second actuated position. This movement of comb 50 about spindles 52, 53 is limited by stop member 101 so that teeth 74 will remain in such a position that the yarns are retained therebetween, both in the normal operating position and in the abnormal enlargement or entanglement sensing position. This movement of switch 111 to its second actuated position will open the holding circuit to solenoid 166 and will complete the circuit to signal light 180 causing the same to be energized and will complete the circuit to the low speed windings of motor 20 due to the closing of switch 161 when the solenoid 166 is de-energized.

Upon removal of the abnormal enlargement or entanglement the comb 50 may be returned to its normal operating position and the machine returned to fast or normal operating speed by closing switch 172. It is noted that the force required to pivot comb 50 about spindles 52, 53 may be adjusted by rotating pinion 134 by wing member 135 and thereby varying the frictional contact of brake elements 126 with collar 120. In this manner, the comb may be set such that an enlargement in a single yarn or the breaking of a single yarn and the entangling thereof with another yarn will rotate the comb and actuate switch 111 or the comb may be set by varying the frictional contact between brake elements 126 and collar 120 such that the comb will be rotated only by an enlargement or entanglement involving two or more yarns, three or more yarns, etc.

It is therefore apparent that a novel control means for a strand processing machine is provided wherein the speed of operation of the machine is reduced upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement, wherein the force required to actuate the same may be varied so that the number of strands which must be broken and entangled or involved in the abnormal enlargement may be varied.

In the drawings and specification there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being defined in the claims.

I claim:

1. A machine for processing a bank of textile yarns, said machine comprising (a) a rotatable take-up beam adapted to wind the bank of yarns thereon,

(b) variable speed drive means operatively connected to said take-up beam and normally operable to rotate said take-up beam at a predetermined speed,

(c) an elongate expansion comb mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis and having a plurality of upstanding teeth adapted to have the yarns pass therebetween for separating the yarns and guiding the same to said take-up beam, said teeth being arranged in sections and being sufficiently closely spaced to prevent the passage therebetween of abnormal enlargements or entanglements in the pattern and being movable longitudinally of said comb to vary the length of the comb and for varying the effective spacing between said teeth, said comb being movable about its pivot upon the engagement of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns with the teeth thereof,

(d) means operatively connected to said comb for resisting movement of said comb about its pivot and being adjustable to vary the resistance applied to said comb for varying the amount of force necessary to pivot said comb upon the engagement of an enlargement or entanglement in the yarns with the teeth of the comb, and

(e) a switch mounted adjacent said comb and in the path of movement thereof to be actuated thereby, said switch being electrically connected to said variable speed drive means and operable when actuated to cause said variable speed drive means to rotate said take-up beam at a reduced speed.

2. A machine for processing a bank of textile yarns,

' said machine comprising yarns, said sections being arranged in a zig-zag (a) a rotatable take-up beam adapted to wind the bank of yarns thereon,

(b) variable speed drive means operatively connected to said take-up beam and normally operable to rotate said take-up beam at a predetermined speed,

(c) a comb including a pivotally mounted base member and a plurality of upstanding teeth carried by said base member and adapted to have the yarns pass therebetween, said teeth being sufiiciently closely spaced to prevent the passage therebetween of abnormal enlargements or entanglements in the yarns, said comb being movable about the pivot point of said base member upon the engagement of such an abnormal enlargement or entangiement in the yarns with the teeth thereof,

(0!) variable brake means disposed at one end of said base member and engageable therewith for applying a variable braking force to said base member to vary the force required to be exerted by the yarns to move said comb, and

(e) a switch mounted adjacent said comb and in the path of movement thereof to be actuated thereby, said switch being electrically connected to said variable speed drive means and operable when actuated to cause said variable speed drive means to rotate said take-up beam at a reduced speed.

3. Control means for use with a machine for processing a bank of textile yarns, said control means comprising (a) a pivotally mounted comb adapted to be disposed in the path of travel of the yarns and having a plurality of upstanding teeth adapted to have the yarns pass therebetween, said teeth being arranged in suinciently closely spaced relation to prevent the passage therebetween of any abnormal enlargements or entanglements in the yarns and to thereby sense the presence thereof, said comb being movable about its pivot upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement by the teeth thereof,

(b) means operatively associated with said comb for limiting movement of said comb about its pivot to maintain the teeth thereof in such a position that the yarns will be retained therebetween both in normal operating position and in abnormal enlargement or entanglement sensing position,

(0) means operatively associated with said comb for resisting movement of said comb about its pivot upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement and being adjustable to vary the resistance applied to said comb for varying the force required to move said comb upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns, and

(d) switch means disposed in the path of travel of said comb to be actuated thereby in response to sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns by the teeth thereof, said switch means being adapted to be connected to the machine for interrupting the normal operation of the machine when actuated. 4. Control means for use with a machine for processing a bank of textile yarns, said control means comprising (a) a comb adapted to be disposed in the path of travel of the yarns and comprising 1) a base member mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot, and (2) a plurality of upstanding teeth carried by said base member and adapted to have the yarns pass therebetween, said teeth being arranged in sufliciently closely spaced relation to prevent the passage therebetween of any abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns and thereby to sense the presence thereof, said base member and thus said comb being movable about the horizontal pivot upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns by the teeth of the comb, (b) variable brake means disposed at one end of said base member and engageable therewith for applying a variable braking force to said comb to thereby vary the force required to be exerted by the yarns to move said comb about the pivot, and switch means positioned in the path of travel of said comb to be actuated thereby in response to sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns by the teeth of the comb, said switch means being adapted to be electrically connected to the machine for interrupting the normal operation thereof upon actuation. 5. Control means for use with a machine for processing a bank of textile yarns, said control means comprising (a) a comb adapted to be disposed in the path of travel of the yarns and comprising (1) a base member mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal pivot, and (2) a plurality of upstanding teeth carried by said base member and adapted to have the yarns pass therebetween, said teeth being arranged in sufiiciently closely spaced relation to prevent the passage therebetween of any abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns and thereby to sense the presence thereof, said base member and thus said comb being movable about the horizontal pivot upon the sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns by the teeth of the comb. ([2) variable brake means disposed at one end of said base member and engageable therewith for applying a variable braking force to said comb to thereby vary the force required to be exerted by the yarns to move said comb about the pivot,

(0) switch means positioned in the path of travel of said comb to be actuated thereby in response to sensing of an abnormal enlargement or entanglement in the yarns by the teeth of the comb, said switch means being adapted to be electrically connected to the machine for interrupting the normal operation thereof upon actuation, and

(d) means connected to said switch means and responsive to actuation thereof for signaling an operator of the machine that an abnormal operating condition exists.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,059,309 Blanton Oct. 23, 1962 FOREIGN PATENTS 855,454 France Feb. 12, 1940 

1. A MACHINE FOR PROCESSING A BANK OF TEXTILE YARNS, SAID MACHINE COMPRISING (A) A ROTATABLE TAKE-UP BEAM ADAPTED TO WIND THE BANK OF YARNS THEREON, (B) VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID TAKE-UP BEAM AND NORMALLY OPERABLE TO ROTATE SAID TAKE-UP BEAM AT A PREDETERMINED SPEED, (C) AN ELONGATE EXPANSION COMB MOUNTED FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING TEETH ADAPTED TO HAVE THE YARNS PASS THEREBETWEEN FOR SEPARATING THE YARNS AND GUIDING THE SAME TO SAID TAKE-UP BEAM, SAID TEETH BEING ARRANGED IN SECTIONS AND BEING SUFFICIENTLY CLOSELY SPACED TO PREVENT THE PASSAGE THEREBETWEEN OF ABNORMAL ENLARGEMENTS OR ENTANGLEMENTS IN THE YARNS, SAID SECTIONS BEING ARRANGED IN A ZIG-ZAG PATTERN AND BEING MOVABLE LONGITUDINALLY OF SAID COMB TO VARY THE LENGTH OF THE COMB AND FOR VARYING THE EFFECTIVE SPACING BETWEEN SAID TEETH, SAID COMB BEING MOVABLE ABOUT ITS PIVOT UPON THE ENGAGEMENT OF AN ABNORMAL ENLARGEMENT OR ENTANGLEMENT IN THE YARNS WITH THE TEETH THEREOF, (D) MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID COMB FOR RESISTING MOVEMENT OF SAID COMB ABOUT ITS PIVOT AND BEING ADJUSTABLE TO VARY THE RESISTANCE APPLIED TO SAID COMB FOR VARYING THE AMOUNT OF FORCE NECESSARY TO PIVOT SAID COMB UPON THE ENGAGEMENT OF AN ENLARGEMENT OR ENTANGLEMENT IN THE YARNS WITH THE TEETH OF THE COMB, AND (E) A SWITCH MOUNTED ADJACENT SAID COMB AND IN THE PATH OF MOVEMENT THEREOF TO BE ACTUATED THEREBY, SAID SWITCH BEING ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MEANS AND OPERABLE WHEN ACTUATED TO CAUSE SAID VARIABLE SPEED DRIVE MEANS TO ROTATE SAID TAKE-UP BEAM AT A REDUCED SPEED. 